Hyundai Engineering & Construction will secure preemptive technology and business capabilities i..

Hyundai Engineering & Construction will secure preemptive technology and business capabilities in order to increase competitiveness in the field of nuclear fusion power generation, which is drawing attention as a future energy source.

Hyundai Engineering & Construction announced on the 15th that it signed a business agreement with Seoul National University on the 14th to “develop superconducting-based nuclear fusion reactor technology and cooperate in business”.

Officials from both sides, including Lee Han-woo, CEO of Hyundai Engineering & Construction, and Yoo Hong-rin, president of Seoul National University, attended the signing ceremony held at Seoul National University’s Gwanak Campus.

Nuclear fusion power generation is a technology that combines atomic nuclei by heating fuels such as hydrogen to ultra-high temperatures of more than 100 million degrees Celsius in a plasma state. It is called “dream energy” because it is safe due to its abundant raw materials, low risk of explosion, and low emission gas and radioactive waste generation.

Through this agreement, Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Seoul National University plan to cooperate in joint research and technology development and transfer, business development and participation, manpower support, and mutual consultative group operation on domestic and foreign superconductivity-based nuclear fusion reactors and nuclear fusion.

Hyundai Engineering & Construction plays a leading role in the construction and commercialization of nuclear fusion power plants based on its experience in various plant projects such as large-scale nuclear power plants and small-module nuclear power plants (SMR). Seoul National University will focus on researching core technologies in the fields of nuclear fusion and superconductivity.

Yoo Hong-rim, president of Seoul National University, said, “We hope that through this cooperation, which will be an important milestone in the history of domestic superconducting research, Korea will be able to secure world-leading technology and contribute to strengthening national competitiveness.”

In response, CEO Lee Han-woo responded, “This agreement will be a meaningful opportunity for nuclear fusion power generation to lead to the construction of a demonstration reactor and commercial path, creating practical value.”